JP4165435B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of separately forming left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document.

2. Description of the Related Art A copying machine having a so-called “page continuous shooting” function that reads left and right or upper and lower pages of a spread document and copies an image or generates image data for each page and stores (hereinafter referred to as “scan”). Are known. In the page continuous shooting function, the copying machine divides the read image into left and right or top and bottom, and prints them on separate sheets. Alternatively, if the copying machine has a scanning function, image data representing each of the two divided images is created and stored.
However, there are not a few cases in which a lump of sentences, charts, and the like (hereinafter referred to as “components”) are laid out across left and right or upper and lower pages of a spread original. When such a document is copied or scanned using the page continuous shooting function, the constituent elements are divided, and it becomes difficult to grasp the contents of the constituent elements.
By the way, a copying machine is known in which an image can be displayed on a screen and visually confirmed before the image is copied. For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when an image is printed using the page continuous shooting function or the like, the images can be displayed on the screen in the order in which they are printed before actually printing. It is configured. Thereby, it is possible to confirm whether or not the images are printed in a desired order.
JP-A-9-93378

However, even if the technique described in Patent Document 1 is used, if there are components laid out across left and right or upper and lower pages of a spread document, a separate copier is used so that a desired image is printed. It is necessary to operate.
The present invention has been made under the above-described background, and in an image forming apparatus having a page continuous shooting function for separately forming left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document, the left and right or upper and lower sides of the spread document. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of printing or storing image data without dividing a component when there is a component laid out across pages.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image reading unit that reads a document and generates document image data, a processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the image data, and an instruction input that inputs an instruction Means for generating divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the original image data into left and right or up and down, and supplying the divided image data to the processing means; and the original image data And an instruction for separately forming the left and right or upper and lower page images of the spread document is input by the instruction input means. If there is a component that is laid out across left and right or upper and lower pages among the components extracted by the element extraction means, the determination result If the result is affirmative, the original image data is supplied to the processing means without being divided, while if the determination result is negative, the continuous shooting method for supplying the original image data to the image dividing means is determined. And an image forming apparatus.

  According to the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, the continuous shooting method determining unit performs element extraction when an instruction to form images on the left and right or upper and lower pages of the spread original is input by the instruction input unit. It is determined whether there is a component that is laid out across left and right or upper and lower pages among the components extracted by the means. If the determination result is affirmative, the document image data is not divided. On the other hand, if the determination result is negative, the document image data is supplied to the image dividing means. The image dividing means generates divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the document image data into left and right or up and down, and supplies the divided image data to the processing means. Here, the processing means is, for example, a means for printing an image based on image data or a means for storing image data.

  The present invention also includes a step of generating a document image data by reading a document, a step of analyzing a layout of an image represented by the document image data and extracting constituent elements of the image, Whether or not there is a component that is laid out across left and right or upper and lower pages among the extracted components when an instruction to separately form images on the upper and lower pages is input by the instruction input unit If the determination result is affirmative, the process using the document image data is performed. If the determination result is negative, the image represented by the document image data is And generating divided image data representing an image divided into two, and performing a predetermined process on the divided image data.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer apparatus comprising: an image reading unit that reads a document to generate document image data; a processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the image data; an instruction input unit that inputs an instruction; Image division means for generating divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the original image data into left and right or up and down, and supplying the divided image data to the processing means; and the original image data When the instruction input means inputs an element extraction means for analyzing the layout of the image to be extracted, and an instruction for separately forming the left and right or upper and lower page images of the spread document. , It is determined whether there is a component laid out across the left and right or upper and lower pages among the components extracted by the element extraction means, the determination result is When it is fixed, the original image data is supplied to the processing means without being divided, and when the determination result is negative, the continuous shooting method for supplying the original image data to the image dividing means is determined. Provide a means.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a page continuous shooting function for separately forming left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document, the components laid out across the left and right or upper and lower pages of the spread document are provided. In some cases, printing or saving of image data can be performed without dividing the constituent elements.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 stores programs and data used for control of the image forming apparatus 10, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 reads a program stored in the ROM 102 and reads a RAM (Random Access Memory). ), The operation of each part of the image forming apparatus 10 is controlled. The image storage means 117 is composed of a hard disk drive or the like and stores image data. The configuration of the image processing unit 118 will be described later. The CPU 101, RAM 103, image storage means 117, and image processing means 118 are connected to a bus 115 that enables high-speed data transmission.

  On the other hand, various peripheral devices are connected to the bus 116. The display means 105 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or the like, and displays an operation menu. The instruction input unit 107 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a digitizer, and the like, and can input an instruction for operating the image forming apparatus 10. A scanner (image reading unit) 109 reads a document and generates multi-value image data representing a multi-tone image. The printer (processing unit) 111 forms an image on the surface of the recording sheet based on the image data by an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like. The display means 105, the instruction input means 107, the scanner 109, and the printer 111 are connected to the bus 116 via interfaces 106, 108, 110, and 112, respectively. Further, the bus 116 is connected to the network 113 via the interface 114, whereby the image forming apparatus 10 can transmit / receive data to / from the outside. The bus 115 and the bus 116 are connected by a bus bridge 104.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing unit 118. The following means are modules that are virtually formed by the CPU 101 executing a program.
The resolution conversion unit 201 receives the document image data generated by the scanner 109 and reduces the resolution of the document image data to a minimum resolution having an amount of information necessary for layout analysis in the subsequent layout analysis unit 203. By this process, the subsequent process can be executed at high speed.
The line segment extraction unit 202 is a unit that generates line segment image data by extracting pixels constituting the line segment from the image data. Specifically, the line segment extraction unit 202 receives document image data whose resolution has been lowered by the resolution conversion unit 201, and extracts pixels constituting the line segment from the document image data. Hereinafter, an outline of a method for extracting pixels constituting a line segment will be described.

  First, binarization of a multi-value image is performed. In binarization, first, an average value of pixel values of pixels included in a certain range of region surrounding the target pixel is obtained. Next, when the difference between the pixel value of the target pixel and the average value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the pixel value of the target pixel is set to “1”, and when the difference is less than the predetermined threshold, the pixel of the target pixel The value is “0”. Since characters, line drawings, tables, and the like are composed of line segments, the pixel values of the pixels constituting the characters and the background pixels are often clearly different. On the other hand, since a photograph or a picture is composed of pixels having various gradations, there is little difference in pixel values between the pixel of interest and the peripheral pixels. Therefore, by setting an appropriate threshold value, it is possible to discriminate between a line segment and other than a line segment (photograph or pattern).

After this process is performed for all pixels, connected pixels are extracted by a known labeling process. In the extraction of connected pixels, the pixels constituting the binarized image data are sequentially scanned, and if a pixel having a pixel value “1” appears, the pixel value “1” is set for the vicinity of the surrounding 8 pixels. It is checked whether there is a pixel having the same value, and the same label value is given to adjacent pixels having the pixel value “1”.
Further, a circumscribed rectangle circumscribing a pixel group to which the same label value is given is created, and when the size of the circumscribed rectangle is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold, the pixel value of the pixels constituting this pixel group is set to “0”. Change to As a result, noise is removed.
In the present embodiment, the pixel group to which the same label value is given in this way is regarded as a line segment, and an image constituted by these line segments is called a line segment image. The image data representing the line segment image is referred to as line segment image data.
The details of the above-described line segment extraction method are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-175532.

  The layout analysis means 203 analyzes the layout of the line segment image represented by the line segment image data, and the component elements of the line segment image are a text area made up of a character string, a line drawing area made up of a line drawing, and a table area made up of a table. It is a means to classify. In this embodiment, a known layout analysis method is used. In the layout analysis, for example, feature amounts such as the position, size, shape, pixel density, pixel projection distribution, etc. of each of the connected pixels constituting the line segment image extracted as described above are measured and determined in advance. These connected pixels are classified according to a rule such as a threshold value. Details of the layout analysis method are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-91450.

The pattern / photo area extraction unit 205 generates line segment excluded image data excluding the text area, line drawing area, and table area from the original image data, and extracts the pattern / photo area including the pattern or photograph from the line segment excluded image data. It is means to do. Also here, the pattern / photograph area is extracted by the same layout analysis method used in the layout analysis means 203.
The above-described line segment extraction unit 202, layout analysis unit 203, and pattern / photograph region extraction unit 205 constitute an element extraction unit.

The image rotation unit 207 is a unit that generates image data representing an image obtained by rotating the original image by 90 degrees.
The image reducing unit 208 is a unit that generates image data representing an image obtained by reducing the original image so as to fit within the area of one page.
The image dividing unit 209 is a unit that generates divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the document image data generated by the scanner 109 into left and right or up and down, and supplies the divided image data to the printer 111. .

  The continuous shooting method determining means 206 is laid out across left and right or upper and lower pages when an instruction to perform so-called page continuous shooting is formed, which separately forms images of left and right or upper and lower pages of a spread document. It is determined whether there is a constituent element that is present, and depending on the determination result, it is determined whether to perform page continuous shooting or to form a spread original image as a single image without page continuous shooting. . Specifically, if there are components that extend to the left and right or top and bottom pages, the image is rotated 90 degrees or reduced without being rotated, and the image is converted into a single image. Form. On the other hand, when there are no components that extend across the left and right or upper and lower pages, the original image data is supplied to the image dividing means 209 to form the images of the left and right or upper and lower pages separately.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, determination is performed using the following conditions at the time of the above determination. If there are components laid out across the left and right or upper and lower pages, there may be no problem even if they are divided using the page continuous shooting function. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a document that does not interfere even when divided. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, most of a certain component belongs to the right page, and only a small part of the left end of the component belongs to the left page. When this component is a photograph or a picture, there is often no problem even if the left and right pages are divided and formed. In the example shown in FIG. 8B, ruled lines are laid out over almost the entire width of the left and right pages. In this case as well, there are many cases where there is no problem even if the left and right pages are divided and formed. In the present embodiment, assuming these cases, the following conditions are used so that an image can be divided and formed even when there are components laid out across left and right or upper and lower pages. Make a determination using.

Hereinafter, description will be given using an example of a document that opens to the left and right. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing parameters used in this determination. FIG. 1 is a component that is laid out across the left and right pages. The page width is PW, the page height is PH, the component width is OW, and the height is OH. Furthermore, the width of the part belonging to the left page among the components is OWL, and the width of the part belonging to the right page is OWR.
Condition (1)
OWL <PW × TH1 or OWR <PW × TH1
However, 0 <TH1 <1
Condition (1) assumes the case of FIG. 8A, and is defined by the ratio of the width of the part belonging to one of the components to the page width. For example, if TH1 = 0.1, when the width of a portion belonging to one of the pages is less than 10% of the page width, the left and right pages are separately formed by the page continuous shooting function.

Condition (2)
OWL <TH2 or OWR <TH2
However, 0 <TH2 <PW
Condition (2) also assumes the case of FIG. 8 (a), and defines the width of the part belonging to one of the components. Unlike the condition (1), the width is specified.
Condition (3)
OH <TH3
However, 0 <TH3 <PH
Condition (3) assumes the case of FIG. 8B and defines the height of the component. For example, when TH3 = 1 mm, when a ruled line having a line width of less than 1 mm extends over the left and right pages, the left and right pages are separately formed by the page continuous shooting function.

The threshold values TH1, TH2, and TH3 are arbitrarily determined according to the type of document, user preference, and the like. Other conditions may be used. For example, various conditions may be used, such as defining the ratio of width OWL (or OWR) to width OW.
If none of the above conditions is satisfied, processing is performed to fit the left and right pages of the spread document into one image without being divided.
When an instruction to form an image obtained by reducing the original image is input by the instruction input unit 107, image data representing an image reduced so that the image represented by the original image data fits in the area of one page is displayed. The image reduction unit 208 generates the image data and supplies the image data to the printer 111.

  On the other hand, when an instruction to form an image obtained by rotating the original image by 90 degrees is input by the instruction input unit 107, image data representing an image obtained by rotating the image represented by the original image data by 90 degrees is displayed. Image data representing an image generated by using the image rotation unit 207 and reduced so that an image rotated by 90 degrees fits in an area of one page is generated by using the image reduction unit 208, and this image data is transmitted to the printer 111. Supply.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described. Since the operation described below is performed by the CPU 101 executing a program, the operation subject will be described as the CPU 101.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing executed by the CPU 101. Here, a description will be given on the assumption that the user has already input an instruction to perform continuous page shooting using the instruction input unit 107, the spread original is read by the scanner 109, and the original image data is generated.

First, in step S <b> 01, the CPU 101 performs resolution conversion of document image data generated by the scanner 109 by the resolution conversion unit 201. The CPU 101 receives the document image data generated by the scanner 109 and reduces the resolution of the document image data to a minimum resolution having an amount of information necessary for layout analysis in the subsequent layout analysis unit 203. By this process, the subsequent process can be executed at high speed.
FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a spread original image. In this example, a photograph is laid out at the top of the left page, a line drawing across the left and right pages at the bottom, and a table at the bottom right of the right page. A plurality of chunks of text are laid out in other areas.

Next, in step S02, the CPU 101 receives the document image data whose resolution has been lowered by the resolution converting unit 201, and the line segment extracting unit 202 extracts the pixels constituting the line segment from the document image data to obtain a line segment image. Generate data.
FIG. 4B is an example of a line segment image extracted by the above-described line segment extraction. As shown in the figure, in the line segment image, the photographic image laid out at the top of the left page is removed.

Next, in step S03, the CPU 101 analyzes the layout of the line segment image represented by the line segment image data using the layout analysis unit 203, and the constituent elements of the line segment image are defined as a text region including a character string, a line drawing, and the like. Are classified into a line drawing area consisting of and a table area consisting of a table.
FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a result of layout analysis of a line segment image. In the same figure, Parag1, Parag2, Parag3, Parag4, Parag5, and Parag6 are all sentence areas. Of these, Parag3, Parag4, and Parag6 are captions of photographs and diagrams, and such captions are also classified as sentence areas. FIG. 1 is a line drawing area composed of line drawings. Table1 is a table area composed of tables.

In step S04 performed in parallel with step S03, the CPU 101 uses the pattern / photo area extraction unit 205 to generate line segment excluded image data excluding the text area, line drawing area, and table area from the document image data.
In step S05, the CPU 101 extracts a pattern / photograph area including a pattern or a photograph from the line segment excluded image data. FIG. 4D is a diagram showing a 0 image obtained by extracting a pattern / photograph area. FIG. 4E shows the result of extracting the pattern / photograph area. Here, it is assumed that the extracted photograph area is Pict1.

In step S06 and subsequent steps, the CPU 101 uses the continuous shooting method determination unit 206 to determine whether there is a component laid out across the left and right pages, and performs page continuous shooting according to the determination result. It is determined whether or not to perform the page continuous shooting and form the image of the spread document as one image.
First, in step S06, the CPU 101 extracts a text area, a line drawing area, a table area, and a pattern / photograph area extracted in steps S03 and S05 that are laid out across left and right pages.

  Next, in step S07, the CPU 101 determines whether to form left and right pages separately. Here, it is determined whether or not the region extracted in step S06 meets any of the above-described condition (1), condition (2), or condition (3). If either of these conditions is met, the left and right pages can be formed separately (step S07: YES), so the process proceeds to step S08, and the original image data is supplied to the image dividing means 209. . FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a spread document. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing images formed separately on the left and right by page continuous shooting. If none of the above conditions is met, page division is not performed (step S07: NO), and the process proceeds to step S09. FIG. 7A illustrates an example of a spread image that does not perform page division.

In step S09, the CPU 101 uses the display unit 105 to display a message for allowing the user to select whether or not to form the image by rotating it. When the user inputs an instruction to rotate the image using the instruction input unit 107 (step S09: YES), the CPU 101 uses the image rotation unit 207 to rotate the original image data by 90 degrees. Is generated (step S10). On the other hand, when the user inputs an instruction not to rotate the image (step S09: NO), the process proceeds to step S11.
In step S <b> 11, the CPU 101 uses the image reduction unit 208 to generate image data representing an image that has been reduced so that the image fits in an area of one page. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an image formed by being rotated so as to be reduced by 90 degrees and reduced to fit in an area of one page. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an image formed by being reduced so as to fit in an area of one page without rotating the image.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when performing so-called continuous page shooting in which images of left and right or upper and lower pages of a spread document are separately formed, the configuration is laid out across left and right or upper and lower pages. When there are elements, it is possible to form an image of a spread document without dividing it.
Further, the image can be reduced and formed so as to fit in the area of one page. Further, the image can be formed by rotating the image by 90 degrees and reducing the image so that it fits in the area of one page.
Further, since the constituent elements of the image are extracted by line segment extraction, layout analysis, line segment excluded image generation, and pattern / photograph area extraction, it is possible to accurately extract the constituent elements spanning the left and right or upper and lower pages.

In addition, the ratio of the width (or height) of the part belonging to one of the components laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages to the page width (or page height) is less than a predetermined threshold value. In some cases, left and right (or top and bottom) page images are formed separately, so that unnecessary rotation and reduction processing can be avoided if there is no problem even if the components are divided.
Also, if the width (or height) of the part belonging to one of the components laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages is less than a predetermined threshold, the left and right (or top and bottom) pages Since these images are formed separately, it is not necessary to perform unnecessary rotation and reduction processing when there is no problem even if the components are divided.
In addition, when the height (or width) of the component laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages is less than a predetermined threshold, the left and right (or top and bottom) page images are separately formed. If there is no problem even if the components are divided, it is not necessary to perform unnecessary rotation and reduction processing.

<Modification>
The present invention is not limited to the form described above, and can be implemented in various forms. For example, the embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
In the above-described embodiment, when an image of a spread document is not divided, image data that fits in an area of one page is generated by rotating the image 90 degrees and then reducing the image without rotating. However, the image of the spread original may be formed on a sheet having a size of two pages. For example, in the case of a JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) A4 size document, an A3 size paper can be used without reducing the image of the spread document.

  In the above-described embodiment, an image is formed using the printer (processing unit) 111 in accordance with the continuous shooting method determined by the continuous shooting method determination unit 206. Image data representing this image is stored in the image storage unit 117. You may make it memorize | store. In this case, the image forming apparatus 10 has a function as an electronic filing device. The image storage unit 117 may be a storage device connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 113.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation in step S03 and the operations in steps S04 and S05 are performed in parallel. However, the processing may be sequentially performed in the order of steps S03, S04, and S05.
In the above-described embodiment, the CPU 101 performs the processing by executing the program. However, the image forming apparatus may be configured by hardware having the same function.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit 118. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which CPU101 performs. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image of a spread document. It is a figure which shows the parameter used by the determination in the continuous shooting system determination means 206. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image of a spread document. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image of a spread document. It is a figure which shows the example of the original document which does not interfere even if it divides | segments.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 101 ... CPU, 102 ... ROM, 103 ... RAM, 104 ... Bus bridge, 105 ... Display means, 107 ... Instruction input means, 109 ... Scanner, 111 ... Printer, 113 ... Network, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 ... interface, 115, 116 ... bus, 117 ... image storage means, 118 ... image processing means, 201 ... resolution conversion means, 202 ... line segment extraction means, 203 ... layout analysis means, 205 ... pattern / photograph Area extracting means 206... Continuous shooting method determining means 207... Image rotating means 208... Image reducing means 209.

Claims (6)

Image reading means for reading a document and generating document image data;
Processing means for performing predetermined processing on the image data;
An instruction input means for inputting an instruction;
Image dividing means for generating divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the document image data into left and right or up and down, and supplying the divided image data to the processing means;
Element extraction means for analyzing the layout of the image represented by the original image data and extracting the constituent elements of the image;
When an instruction to separately form left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document is input by the instruction input unit, the component extracted by the element extraction unit spans left and right or upper and lower pages. It is determined whether there is a component that is laid out, the determination result is affirmative , and the part belonging to one of the components that are laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages When the ratio of the width (or height) to the page width (or page height) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the document image data is supplied to the processing means without being divided, while the determination result is negative. some cases, or the determination result is affirmative, and the portion that belongs to one of the pages of the laid-out component across the page of the left and right (or up and down) Image forming apparatus and a continuous method determination means for supplying the original image data in the image dividing means when the ratio of the width (or height) is less than a predetermined threshold. Image reading means for reading a document and generating document image data;
Processing means for performing predetermined processing on the image data;
An instruction input means for inputting an instruction;
Image dividing means for generating divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the document image data into left and right or up and down, and supplying the divided image data to the processing means;
Element extraction means for analyzing the layout of the image represented by the original image data and extracting the constituent elements of the image;
When an instruction to separately form left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document is input by the instruction input unit, the component extracted by the element extraction unit spans left and right or upper and lower pages. It is determined whether there is a component that is laid out, the determination result is affirmative , and the part belonging to one of the components that are laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages When the width (or height) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the document image data is supplied to the processing unit without being divided, while the determination result is negative or the determination result is positive. And the width (or height) of the part belonging to any one of the components laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages is less than a predetermined threshold The case image forming apparatus and a continuous method determination means for supplying the original image data in the image dividing unit. Image reading means for reading a document and generating document image data;
Processing means for performing predetermined processing on the image data;
An instruction input means for inputting an instruction;
Image dividing means for generating divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the document image data into left and right or up and down, and supplying the divided image data to the processing means;
Element extraction means for analyzing the layout of the image represented by the original image data and extracting the constituent elements of the image;
When an instruction to separately form left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document is input by the instruction input unit, the component extracted by the element extraction unit spans left and right or upper and lower pages. It is determined whether there is a component that is laid out, the determination result is affirmative , and the height (or width) of the component laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages is a predetermined value. If it is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the document image data is supplied to the processing means without being divided. On the other hand, if the determination result is negative , or the determination result is affirmative, and left and right (or up and down) continuous system determine which supplies the original image data in the image dividing means when the height of the laid-out component across the page (or width) is less than a predetermined threshold value An image forming apparatus having a means. Computer equipment,
Image reading means for reading a document and generating document image data;
Processing means for performing predetermined processing on the image data;
An instruction input means for inputting an instruction;
Image dividing means for generating divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the document image data into left and right or up and down, and supplying the divided image data to the processing means;
Element extraction means for analyzing the layout of the image represented by the original image data and extracting the constituent elements of the image;
When an instruction to separately form left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document is input by the instruction input unit, the component extracted by the element extraction unit spans left and right or upper and lower pages. It is determined whether there is a component that is laid out, the determination result is affirmative , and the part belonging to one of the components that are laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages When the ratio of the width (or height) to the page width (or page height) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the document image data is supplied to the processing means without being divided, while the determination result is negative. some cases, or the determination result is affirmative, and the portion that belongs to one of the pages of the laid-out component across the page of the left and right (or up and down) Program for the ratio to the width (or height) is made to function as the continuous shooting mode determining means for supplying the original image data in the image dividing means in the case is less than a predetermined threshold value. Computer equipment,
Image reading means for reading a document and generating document image data;
Processing means for performing predetermined processing on the image data;
An instruction input means for inputting an instruction;
Image dividing means for generating divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the document image data into left and right or up and down, and supplying the divided image data to the processing means;
Element extraction means for analyzing the layout of the image represented by the original image data and extracting the constituent elements of the image;
When an instruction to separately form left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document is input by the instruction input unit, the component extracted by the element extraction unit spans left and right or upper and lower pages. It is determined whether there is a component that is laid out, the determination result is affirmative , and the part belonging to one of the components that are laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages When the width (or height) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the document image data is supplied to the processing unit without being divided, while the determination result is negative or the determination result is positive. And the width (or height) of the part belonging to any one of the components laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages is less than a predetermined threshold Program for the case to function as the continuous shooting mode determining means for supplying the original image data in the image dividing unit. Computer equipment,
Image reading means for reading a document and generating document image data;
Processing means for performing predetermined processing on the image data;
An instruction input means for inputting an instruction;
Image dividing means for generating divided image data representing an image obtained by dividing the image represented by the document image data into left and right or up and down, and supplying the divided image data to the processing means;
Element extraction means for analyzing the layout of the image represented by the original image data and extracting the constituent elements of the image;
When an instruction to separately form left and right or upper and lower page images of a spread document is input by the instruction input unit, the component extracted by the element extraction unit spans left and right or upper and lower pages. It is determined whether there is a component that is laid out, the determination result is affirmative , and the height (or width) of the component laid out across the left and right (or top and bottom) pages is a predetermined value. If it is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the document image data is supplied to the processing means without being divided. On the other hand, if the determination result is negative , or the determination result is affirmative, and left and right (or up and down) continuous system determine which supplies the original image data in the image dividing means when the height of the laid-out component across the page (or width) is less than a predetermined threshold value Program for functioning as a unit.

Images